“I had no direction in my life whatsoever when I came here… Now I want to go back to school to become an addiction therapist, so that I can be part of other people’s recovery and a positive force in their life like the staff at Beaches was for me.”

Alcoholism Symptoms

Alcoholism symptoms aren’t always easy to recognize. Many cultures in the world embrace drinking, making it is easy for social drinking to become a problem. Individuals who start drinking to cope with difficult feelings or stress may be exhibiting signs of a problem. When this happens, it’s vital to get help right away.

Recognizing Alcoholism Symptoms

Many factors contribute to alcoholism symptoms. A family history of substance abuse, the individual’s environment and emotional health issues can make someone more at risk for developing alcoholism. Individuals may be exhibiting alcoholism symptoms if they:

Lie about their drinking or try to hide how much they drink

Drink to feel more relaxed or confident

Feel ashamed or guilty about their drinking

Black out regularly

Frequently drink more than they intend to

Have loved ones who are worried about their drinking

Individuals suffering from alcoholism symptoms may find it difficult to carry out their day-to-day responsibilities. As drinking becomes more important to them, they may start failing classes, neglecting their families or forgetting work responsibilities. Legal and financial problems are also common for individuals with alcohol abuse disorder.

When someone suffers from alcoholism, they may use alcohol in situations that are physically dangerous. They may drink and drive, or they may mix alcohol with other drugs. They may continue to drink even when alcohol is causing issues in their life.

Transitioning From Alcohol Abuse to Alcoholism

Some people who abuse alcohol are not full-blown alcoholics. While some people may never become alcoholics, continued abuse is a major risk factor. Stressful events like a breakup or the loss of a loved one can trigger alcoholism.

In other cases, individuals gradually drink more as their tolerance increases. Over time, they may need to drink more to feel buzzed and relaxed. The next sign of a problem is when individuals experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop drinking. Some of the alcoholism symptoms of withdrawal include:

Depression

Loss of appetite

Shakiness

Vomiting

Headaches

Nausea

Anxiety

Insomnia

Irritability

Sweating

Fatigue

When individuals experience severe withdrawal symptoms, they may also develop mental confusion, a fever, hallucinations, agitation or a seizure. Since withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, it’s important to get medical help to combat them.

Knowing When to Get Help for Alcoholism Symptoms

People may find that they drink more than they intended or for longer than they intended. They may even try to quit drinking and find it impossible to quit on their own. For individuals struggling with alcoholism symptoms, recovery can’t begin until they acknowledge their problem. Individuals who lose control over their drinking should consider attending rehab for alcohol addiction at Beaches Recovery.